Confidential reporting provides a safety net

CIRAS requests that companies investigate reporters’ concerns in good faith and determine the best course of action to address underlying health and safety concerns. Because CIRAS is a confidential reporting service, rather than a regulator, it cannot enforce remedial actions on the basis of a single report raised.

Given the tragic consequences of the Croydon tram derailment, it might appear that the driver fatigue issue highlighted in the original report remained unaddressed two years after the report, despite assurances to the contrary. However, without having a broader picture of the health and safety culture at the time of the accident, we cannot say with any reliability how representative the CIRAS report was.

We are delighted that First Tram Operations became a member of CIRAS in May this year.